The most pressing air pollution problem occurring in urban centres in Tasmania is caused by burning wood for residential heating purposes. PM10 particles (particulate matter less than 10 micrometres in diameter) in woodsmoke are a major contaminant, travelling to the deep parts of the lung once breathed in.

There are national standards for the daily average atmospheric concentration of these particles, which may only be exceeded on 5 occasions a year. Tasmania has agreed to meet this standard by 2008.